New Antifouling Guide, Papers Available

A reliable methodology for determining the efficacy of antifouling coatings is the topic of a free new guidance document developed by the International Paint and Printing Ink Council’s (IPPIC) Antifouling Work Group.

IPPIC also has a number of new papers available from its recent Fourth Global Marine Coatings Forum, held earlier this month in Singapore.

The new position paper provides guidance on how to conduct, assess, record, and report results from efficacy evaluations. It was developed to address questions regarding the efficacy of antifouling coatings, according to IPPIC .

Hein Mück / Wikimedia Commons

The recent Fourth Global Marine Coatings Forum in Singapore featured attendees from 15 countries and a variety of presentations. Some of the papers are available for free downloading.

The document provides a baseline methodology for evaluating and reporting the efficacy of antifouling coatings. Efficacy is assessed by static raft testing relative to a negative control and, if used, a positive control coating.

Obtaining Data, Supporting Claims

Coating industry professionals may use the methodology to obtain efficacy data during the development of new antifouling coatings. It may also be used to provide national registration authorities with the information required to support label claims of antifouling products.

IPPIC says the methodology is especially useful for:

Persons responsible for writing the protocols for antifouling efficacy trials;

Persons responsible for conducting trials including the evaluation and recording of results;

Persons responsible for assembling and submitting dossiers for the registration of antifouling paints; and

National authorities responsible for the assessment of registration dossiers.

IPPIC notes that efficacy may be indicative of—but has no direct one-to-one relationship with—the actual performance of a product under real-life conditions.

IPPIC Marine Coatings Forum

Comprised of paint and printing ink trade associations representing Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Mexico and the United States, IPPIC provides a forum for information exchange and cooperation on the major issues and priorities facing the paint and printing ink industries worldwide. IPPIC is a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Templar52 / Wikimedia Commons

IPPIC notes that efficacy testing may be indicative of—but has no direct one-to-one relationship with—the actual performance of a product under real-life conditions.

Comprised of paint makers that manufacture antifoulings and related raw materials, IPPIC’s Antifouling Working Group works to monitor activity which will, or is likely to, impact the regulations governing the marketing and use of antifouling products, whether such activity is undertaken by national governments, international organizations, NGOs or research institutions.

Last year, the group published Data Protection and Confidentiality, a working paper that offers guidelines on protecting proprietary data that companies are required to submit to regulatory authorities.